Mitchell’s parents, Donald and Susanne Wilkerson, opened Old MacDonald’s Farm in March 1991 after the pair visited several drive-through safaris that let them get up close with exotic animals.
“They always noticed the most popular part was the cheesy section at the end where they had goats and people ... could touch the animals,” Mitchell said. “They had the idea to just open up a place where you can pet the animals, and that’s how [Old MacDonald’s Farm] was born.”
While Donald and Susanne are still part owners of the business, they have since handed the reins to Mitchell to operate and manage the facility.
Old MacDonald’s Farm offers a number of activities for visitors to enjoy, including access to 12 petting zoo barns with animals including sheep, goat, llamas, pigs, tortoises and cows.
Additionally, the farm features a train that circles most of the property, pony rides, a seasonal swimming pool and several playgrounds for children.
Upon opening, Mitchell said the business primarily relied on word-of-mouth advertising to spread the word about the new establishment.
“In the beginning, [my parents] let schools in [for field trips] for free,” Mitchell said. “The theory was if we let the schools in for free, the parents would see it and say, ‘Oh, I want to do a birthday party there.’ It’s like a snowball effect.”
According to Mitchell, it took a few months for the business to gain popularity, and three decades later, that popularity has persevered.
Mitchell said two of the farm’s most popular attractions have been the train and pony rides, noting the business is one of the few in the area that feature a train on rails. He also pointed to a handful of seasonal offerings that have become customer favorites, including summer access to the facility’s swimming pool, a winter wonderland setup designed to serve as a backdrop for holiday photos and an annual pumpkin patch.
While Mitchell noted he did not foresee himself taking over the family business as he was growing up, he has found a lot of joy in operating the farm, especially when he gets to work with children.
“When they get off the bus, they’re all wide eyed and happy,” Wilkerson said. “When they get back on the bus as I’m putting their stuff up, they’re just as excited. That lets me know that we have something good here.”
Old MacDonald’s Farm
3203 FM 1960 E., Humble
281-446-4001
www.oldmacdonaldsfarmtexas.com
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
